Firebird Question....

[The GMR]

Im not familiar with all the Firebird stats and I need some answers...

Were looking to build a PT version of this car...



What years and models will work for this, or something close enough. Im looking for just the differences in the body.... were going to build a tube chassis anyway so the interior and suspension do not matter...

thanks
JAson

[b-man]

That picture shows the '79 - '81 body style.

The '77 -'78 cars are more popular and a bit more expensive, they were the ones used in the 'Bandit' movies.

Any of the '70 -'81 2nd-gen T/As will be a great platform to build on, but the later model '77 -'81 cars will have the look you're trying to acheive.

[Derek69SS]

The '77 -'78 cars are more popular and a bit more expensive, they were the ones used in the 'Bandit' movies.

Just the first one... 2nd movie was a 79-81, and the 3rd movie had a 3rd Gen 82+

Given the choice, I'd definitely rather have the 77-78... WAY better looking. The one in the movie was a '77.

[Mingus]

I guess the "pretty" car that they did all of the interior shots with was a stock powered auto T/A but the main driving one had a 454 Chevy and a 4 speed. I can just imagine the Poncho guys' heads spinning. Of course, a lot of the 6.6 T/A's had Oldsmobile 403's instead of Pontiac 400's.

[Tuske427]

I guess the "pretty" car that they did all of the interior shots with was a stock powered auto T/A but the main driving one had a 454 Chevy and a 4 speed. I can just imagine the Poncho guys' heads spinning. Of course, a lot of the 6.6 T/A's had Oldsmobile 403's instead of Pontiac 400's.

on the shaker hood- if it says "t/a 6.6" it was Pontiac equipped. If it says "6.6 litre" then it's an olds.

[Tuske427]

Im not familiar with all the Firebird stats and I need some answers...

Were looking to build a PT version of this car...



What years and models will work for this, or something close enough. Im looking for just the differences in the body.... were going to build a tube chassis anyway so the interior and suspension do not matter...

thanks
JAson

also remember that the 1975-81 model rear windows were the "wrap around" style. (1970-74 had a flatter rear window that did not wrap around the sides so much). the front end parts are bolt on so if you find a donor shell of another year you can consider using it.

[Derek69SS]

I guess the "pretty" car that they did all of the interior shots with was a stock powered auto T/A but the main driving one had a 454 Chevy and a 4 speed. I can just imagine the Poncho guys' heads spinning. Of course, a lot of the 6.6 T/A's had Oldsmobile 403's instead of Pontiac 400's.

I've never heard that it was BBC powered, but I do know all the engine sounds were recorded from the American Graffiti / Two-Lane Blacktop '55 Chevy w/ LS7 454 and M22... at least in the first movie anyway.

[Josue]

Like this?

http://www.yearone.com/yodnn/home/tabid/54/default.aspx

[formula]

No no no nothing like that.

More like this, I'm sure.

http://www.collectormotors.com/1977ta.htm

Or, with a full tube chassis, it might be more like this one.

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=49236

Just don't use the headlights from this one!

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/06/s...or-a-firebird/

[Josue]

I'll take either one!

[twosaturns]

Just the first one... 2nd movie was a 79-81, and the 3rd movie had a 3rd Gen 82+

Given the choice, I'd definitely rather have the 77-78... WAY better looking. The one in the movie was a '77.

more specifically, the 2nd movie car was a 80 or 81, the turbo 301 cars.
looks are debatable, I always thought the 79 was the best looking late 2nd gen.

[Zee]

on the shaker hood- if it says "t/a 6.6" it was Pontiac equipped. If it says "6.6 litre" then it's an olds.

That's not correct. T/A 6.6's had the W72 or WS6 option with a 200hp 400 Pontiac variant. All others came with either a base 180 hp 400 Pontiac or the 403 Olds. http://www.78ta.com/66liter.htm

To answer your question, the body style you are looking for is 79-81. If you come across a 77-78, the front and rear can be swapped out relatively easy so in a pinch, a 77-78 will work but you will need to find the proper 79-81 bumpers etc.

[79-TA]

Any of the bandit style late 2nd gen cars require smog checks in California. You might consider saving yourself a headache by using an older car. 75's and 76's would have the correct wrap around rear window. This would require not only different bumpers and fascias, but fenders as well.

If you do use the correct year car, it'd be cool if you could get the engine accepted by CARB (even without engines like GM's LS3 "e-rod" you're supposed to be allowed to put in a more efficient engine . . . it all just has to be reviewed.) An LS swap should make such a process a lot easier.

[Tuske427]

Any of the bandit style late 2nd gen cars require smog checks in California. You might consider saving yourself a headache by using an older car. 75's and 76's would have the correct wrap around rear window. This would require not only different bumpers and fascias, but fenders as well.

If you do use the correct year car, it'd be cool if you could get the engine accepted by CARB (even without engines like GM's LS3 "e-rod" you're supposed to be allowed to put in a more efficient engine . . . it all just has to be reviewed.) An LS swap should make such a process a lot easier.

1975 model year would be the only year with a wrap around rear window and is smog exempt. 1976 would need to be smogged. (see second link below)

I've done the emissions legal swap here in CA before, and it's a pain, not to mention more expensive. I won't do it again.

Here's a little more info on it:

http://www.bar.ca.gov/80_BARResource...uidelines.html


http://www.bar.ca.gov/80_BARResource...ns_Part_1.html

[LeighP]

If you're using an earlier body (75-78) and want it to look like a 79-81, its not just bumpers....the rear tail panel is different to suit the newer style lights.

77 - T/A 6.6 = W72 200hp 6.6 Litre = L78 400 180hp or 403 Olds 185hp

78 - T/A 6.6 = W72 220hp Blank shaker - any other engine

79 - T/A 6.6 = W72 220hp - 4 speed only with WS6 option.
6.6 litre = 403 Olds 185hp

All the 77's (6 of them) used in the first Smokey and The Bandit were 76 models dressed in pre-production 77 parts (movie was shot in 1976) - they used a combination of 400 and 403 powered cars except one 455 4 speed for burnout scenes etc, all had "6.6 LITRE" shaker decals for continuity purposes.
None are known to exist from the original movie.
The engine dubbing sounds were supplied by one of the 55 Chevy 4 speed cars used for Two Lane Blacktop and later for American Graffiti....which is why people thought there was a chevy engine involved.
Above info comes from interviews with the Director, the Pontiac advertising manager involved in supplying the cars and the owner of the movie vehicle supply company that owned the 55 Chevies.